Sports training system

Abstract

A sports training system employs either a cone having a threaded top or a circular base having a threaded connection. The threaded portion enables connection of different components to create a modular system of training devices for different situations. These components are: bar connectors, a suction cup attachment, a cone coupler, a base, bars, and a bell.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 14/544,198, filed Dec. 8, 2014 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/963,861, filed Dec. 16, 2013.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sports training system which aids in an athlete's reaction training namely change of direction, maintenance of proper athletic stances and effective use of hands. The system uses a modified sports training cone from the one disclosed and claimed in the aforementioned co-pending application as well as a circular base having a threaded connection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Sports are not scripted. Sports are not predictable. They are based on reactions, and in many cases, they include contact. All of those traits require an athlete to change directions quickly, remain low in athletic stances, and use the hands effectively. While most cones are simply objects that sit on the floor, the present invention is system which incorporates a variety of accessories connects to a cone which stimulate and enhances these traits.

My co-pending application discloses a cone which has a wide base and a central gripping surface making it easy to grab, move from spot to spot, slam, and stack. The gripping surface enables the cone to be grabbed, tossed, slid, or stacked during training.

These features allow for athletes to train for reactions rather than train with ordinary cones that don't move, and to grab and simulate contact and force athletes into lower athletic positions.

The present invention modifies the cone by adding a threaded top portion. The system also uses a circular base with a threaded connection. The threaded portion enables connection of different components to these bases to create a modular system of training devices for different situations. These components are: bar connectors, a suction cup, a cone coupler, bars, and a bell.

The prior art includes: SOCCER.COM Veloce Pro Cone, U.S. Pat. No. 3,380,428 Abrams, U.S. Pat. No. 3,496,904 RimkUS U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,791 Thurston, U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,270 Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,600 Brown, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,369 Bent, et al., and U.S. Pat. No. D617,402 Fucillo, et al.

The Veloce Pro Cone does not have any grip. Fucillo et al shows a sports training cone having a grip at the top. Abrams, Rimkus, Thurston, Brown, et al. and Bent et al. all show traffic cones with handle grips at the top of the cones. Smith shows a handgrip for a bat formed of an irregular surface about the entire circumference of the bat.

The prior art does not show an irregular gripping surface formed about the central circumference of a portion of the cone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sports training cone of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the sports training cone taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of cone coupler attachment;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the base attachment;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bar connector attachment;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the suction cup support attachment;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the bell attachment;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIGS. 13a and 13b are perspective views of the bell threadedly attached to the cone;

FIGS. 13c and 13d are perspective views of the bell threadedly attached to the base;

FIGS. 14a and 14b are perspective views of a suction cup attachment threadedly attached to the cone;

FIGS. 14c and 14d are perspective views of the suction cup attachment threadedly attached to the base;

FIGS. 15a and 15b are perspective views of the cone coupler threadedly attached to the cone;

FIGS. 15c and 15d are perspective views of the cone coupler threadedly attached to the base;

FIGS. 16a and 16b are perspective views of the bar connector attachment threadedly attached to the cone;

FIGS. 16c and 16d are perspective views of the bar connector attachment threadedly attached to the base;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the bars;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the bar connectors;

FIGS. 19a and 19b are perceptive views of a bar coupler attached to the bars;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a bar attached to two cones;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of four bars attached to four bases; and

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the cone and other attachments in use with a basketball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-2 the sports training cone of the present invention includes an upper threaded section 1, a gripping section 3 and a lower section 5. The gripping section 3 is formed of a raised irregular surface located about 15% from the top of the cone and extending about 35% along the length of the cone. Thus, the gripping surface covers 35% of the circumference of the cone starting 15% from the top and 50% from the bottom.

The cone itself is formed of a propylene polymer. The grip is TPE (thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer) and is heat shrunk onto the cone. The upper section 1 has a screw threaded surface about the circumference of the cone while the lower section 5 has a smooth surface about the circumference of the cone. This threaded section enables the cone to be connected to a variety of attachments for different sports training exercises.

FIGS. 3-4 show a coupler 7 having threads 9 formed internally. The coupler has two symmetrical cylindrical portions having a wide diameter at the ends which diameter narrows at the center. This coupler enables connection of attachments such as connection of two of the cones shown in FIGS. 1-2 top to top. FIGS. 5-6 show a flat circular base 11 having a central shaft 13 protruding from the top of the base with screw threads 15 formed along the outer surface of the shaft. The base attachment enables connection of other accessories at a lower height than when using the cone.

In FIGS. 7-8, a bar connector attachment to the cone has a tapered base 17′ and a central shaft 17. The tapered base 17′ is threaded and may be affixed to the top of the cone shown of FIGS. 1-2 or to the base shown in FIGS. 5-6 thus providing a central hole in the top of the central. FIGS. 9-10 show the bar connector of FIGS. 7-8 attached to a circular dished suction cup attachment 21. The suction cup attachment 21 has a centrally located solid shaft portion 23 which fits into the opening in the central shaft 17. The suction cup 21 allows system to be stuck to many flat surfaces.

FIGS. 11-12 show a bell attachment. The manually actuated bell 2 may be connected to a tapered threaded shaft 6 so that threads 8 in shaft 6 may engage the threads on the top of the cone shown in FIGS. 1-2. The bell is actuated by depressing the button 4. The attachment of the bell to the cone is shown in FIGS. 13a and 13b.

The bell may also be threadedly attached to the base 11 as shown in FIGS. 13c and 13d. Similarly, the suction cup attachment 21 described in FIGS. 9-10 is threadedly attached to the cone as shown in FIGS. 14a and 14b. The suction cup attachment 21 may also be attached to the base 11 as shown in FIGS. 14c and 14d. The coupler of FIGS. 3-4 may be attached to the cone (FIGS. 15a and 15b) or to the base (FIGS. 15c and 15d). The bar connector of FIGS. 7-8 may be similarly attached to the cone (FIGS. 16a and 16b) or to the base 11 (FIGS. 16c and 16d).

FIG. 17 shows a sample set 8 of hollow bars for creating patterns of obstacles. In FIG. 18, the bar joints 10, an X joint, 12, an angled joint, 14, a T joint, 16, a 90° joint, and 18, a corner joint are shown. FIGS. 19a and 19b show several bars attached to the bar coupler 17′ using bar joint 18. FIG. 20 shows another bar configuration attaching a bar to two cones using bar joint 16. FIG. 21 shows bars arranged in a rectangular pattern attached to a base 11. FIG. 22 illustrates the use of a cone 3, 5 coupler 7 and base 11 as a support for a ball 20. The ball 20 is supported in the bottom of the now inverted cone.

As will now be seen, the system of the present invention provides the ability to create many different exercise and training configurations.

Claims

1. A sports training system comprising: support means having an upper threaded section for threadedly receiving and supporting different attachments for different sports training exercises, and a bottom circular portion.

2. The sports training system of claim 1 wherein said support means is a cone.

3. The sports training system of claim 1 wherein said support means is a circular base having a threaded shaft thereon.

4. The sports training system of claim 2 wherein the surface of the cone is divided into three sections, an upper threaded section, a lower section, and a gripping section formed about the circumference of the cone between said upper and lower sections, said gripping section being formed of a raised irregular surface.

5. The sports training system of claim 1 further including a bell having a threaded portion for threadedly engaging said upper threaded section.

6. The sports training system of claim 1 further including coupler having two threaded to enable connection of one threaded attachment or base to the other.

7. The sports training system of claim 1 further including a suction cup having a threaded portion formed thereon.

8. The sports training system of claim 1, a connector having a threaded lower portion for connection to other threaded attachments and a hollow upper portion for receiving and supporting different attachments therein.

9. The sports training system of claim 8 further including a bar having two ends, one end being mounted in said hollow upper portion.

10. The sports training system of claim 9 further including connector means attached to the other end of said bar for receiving and supporting at least one other bar therein.

11. A sports training system comprising: a support having a threaded connector portion formed thereon; and a plurality of different components for threadedly connecting to said support.

12. The sports training system of claim 11 wherein said support is a cone,

13. The sports training system of claim 11 wherein said support is a circular base having a threaded connection point.

14. The sports training system of claim 11 further including a plurality of bars, connection means attached to said support for mounting said bars in a desired pattern, said connection means including a threaded portion and a centrally located aperture for receiving said bars.

15. The sports training system of claim 14 further including a plurality of connectors for attaching said bars to each other.

16. The sports training system of claim 11 further including a coupler having a threaded interior surface enabling connection of two supports to each other.

17. The sports training system of claim 11, further including a suction cup threadedly attached to said support for securing said support to a surface.

18. A sports training system comprising: a support having a threaded connector portion formed thereon, a plurality of bars, connection means for attaching said bars to said support, a plurality of connectors for attaching said bars in a desired pattern, a coupler for attaching other threaded components to each other, a suction cup for threadedly engaging said support, and a bell having a threaded portion thereon for engaging said support.